2021 Sept - Oct
September 2021: Blue Green Algae build-ups have been in various lake sections, in its bright green life cycle stage, which likely suggests alive and growing. This is not a good sign, and can be an indication of larger future growth based on past timeline documentation. The coming fall-winter months are Harbor Isle Lake's peak season for these toxic odorous blooms.
Throughout 2021, again, other methods for lake remediation to proactively prevent these toxic blooms (and improve overall water quality), like improving the current design of the aeration system (via additional bottom aerators in lake lobes) have not been attempted by the City and its contractor, despite multiple requests by citizens since 2020.
October 2021: Blue Green Algae predictions from summer since seeing bright green (living) algae growing again in the lake, appear to be correct; October had reoccurring and persistent instances of large toxic blooms in multiple lake areas. The DEP was called upon to sample again by a citizen request. Detectable Microcystin toxin levels were found. See DEP Sample Results Chart for details.
October 06, 13, & 20, 2021 -- The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) had a single boat on the lake, where another "spot-treat" copper algaecide application was likely applied (due to the blue-colored sprayed liquid witnessed) on the lake in certain areas. Total application locations remain unknown and total quantity administered is also unknown.
October 13, 2021 -- FL-DEP sampled within 30 minutes of completion of Solitude's algaecide spraying. The prop wash and boat movements disturbed the BGA and likely affected the sample reading. The DEP did not note this spraying was done prior in the sample info; the DEP also failed to document and sample in the worst build-up or scum area (Neighborhood Entrance shoreline) to assess the highest risk toxin levels, and those closest to humans.
Sept 3 2021
Southeast Lobe
Very faint bright blue-green algae streaking on surface of water
turbid
Sept 6 2021
Southeast Lobe
turbid
Sept 6 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
turbid
Sept 12 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Bright blue-green algae present
Sept 15 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
turbid
Is "Prorocentrum minimum" algae present due to brown-green water?
Sept 19 2021
Southeast Lobe
Bright blue-green algae present along with small bubbles demonstrating BGA photosynthesis
Sept 19 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Larger bright blue-green algae build-up present
Sept 19 2021
Northwest Lobe
Bright blue-green algae present and trapped in cattails
Sept 20 2021
Southeast Lobe
Bright blue-green algae present in light streaking
Sept 24 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Bright blue-green algae present and trapped in cattail islands and weeds as shown in yellow circled areas
Sept 27 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Bright blue-green algae present
Sept 29 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Bright blue-green algae present
Sept 29 2021
Southeast Lobe
Is "Prorocentrum minimum" algae present due to brown-green water?
Sept 30 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Bright blue-green algae present
Oct 3 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Blue-green algae bloom present (marked by yellow circle) and BGA streaking at shoreline
Oct 9 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Blue-green algae build-up
Noxious odors detected
Oct 9 2021
Southeast Lobe
Blue-green algae build-up
(dotted lines in water are where a bird swam through)
Oct 10 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Blue-green algae present and trapped within weeds and cattail debris
Oct 10 2021
Southeast Lobe ~10am
Blue-green algae build-up
Oct 10 2021
Southeast Lobe ~4pm
Blue-green algae still present
Oct 11 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Large blue-green algae build-up around lake lobe
Oct 11 2021
Northwest Lobe
Large blue-green algae build-up around lake lobe
Oct 11 2021
Southeast Lobe
Blue-green algae build-up
Oct 12 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Large blue-green algae build-up
(yellow line delineates extent of bloom distance from shore)
Oct 13 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Blue-green algae present;
surface scum and in water column
DEP sampled today, but sample was not taken from shoreline worst area, but rather a boat ~20 feet offshore.
Oct 13 2021
Southeast Lobe
Blue-green algae present
Oct 14 2021
Southeast Lobe
Blue-green algae build-up
Oct 14 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Blue-green algae present;
surface scum and in water column
Oct 15 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Large blue-green algae build-up
Oct 15 2021
Southeast Lobe
Brown-Gray Blue Green Algae Present
(Dying? stage)
Oct 16 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Blue-green algae build-up
Oct 16 2021
Northwest Lobe
Large blue-green algae build-up
(yellow line delineates extent of bloom distance from shore)
Noxious odors present at sidewalk
Oct 19 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Blue-green algae build-up
surface scum and in water column
Oct 21 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Blue-green algae bloom present (marked by yellow circle) and BGA in water column
Oct 21 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe - close up
Planktonic algae type (small BGA particulate) in water column yielding high turbidity/ no water clarity
Oct 21 2021
Northwest Lobe
Blue-green algae build-up
Invasive cattails continue to grow and have further blocked direct view of shoreline or its access
Oct 22 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Blue-green algae present and trapped within weeds and cattail debris
(marked by yellow circle)
Oct 23 2021
Southeast Lobe
Blue-green algae present
fine streaking
Oct 24 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Blue-green algae bloom present
Oct 26 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Large blue-green algae build-up;
surface scum and in water column
Oct 26 2021
Southeast Lobe
Large blue-green algae build-up;
Cattail islands and debris trapped blue-green algae and cause larger amounts to remain longer thus, extending toxin exposures.
Oct 27 2021
Southern (Entrance) Lobe
Large blue-green algae build-up;
thicker surface scums
Oct 27 2021
Southeast Lobe
Blue-green algae present
streaking / marbleized texture
Oct 30 2021
Southeast Lobe
Large blue-green algae build-up
Oct 31 2021
Southeast Lobe - 8:27am
Large blue-green algae build-up
Oct 31 2021
Southeast Lobe - 2:18pm
Demonstrates how BGA scum shifts and accumulates as build-up via wind direction, and how it becomes trapped against and in cattails (yellow circle) and remains longer thus, extending toxin exposures.